WILLIAM AND MARY.

5

or Delamere, had borne a greater part in the Revolution chap.than those splendid household troops, whose plumed hats, -embroidered coats, and curvetting chargers the Londoners hadso often seen with admiration in Hyde Park. The mortificationof the army was increased by the taunts of the foreigners, tauntswhich neither orders nor punishments could entirely restrain.*

At several places the anger which a brave and highspirited bodyof men might, in such circumstances, be expected to feel,showed itself in an alarming manner. A battalion which layat Cirencester put out the bonfires, huzzaed for King James,and drank confusion to his daughter and his nephew. Thegarrison of Plymouth disturbed the rejoicings of the Countyof Cornwall: blows were exchanged; and a man was killed inthe fray.**

The ill humour of the clergy and of the army could not hut Reactionbe noticed by the most heedless; for the clergy and the army fi e h“ n b g. 10were distinguished from other classes by obvious peculiarities ofgarb. “Black coats and red coats,” said a vehement Whig inthe House of Commons, “ are the curses of the nation.”*** Butthe discontent was not confined to the black coats and the redcoats. The enthusiasm with which men of all classes had wel-comed William to London at Christmas had greatly abated be-fore the close of February. The new king had, at the very mo-ment at which his fame and fortune reached the highest point,predicted the coming reaction. That reaction might, indeed,have been predicted by a less sagacious observer of human af-fairs. For it is to be chiefly ascribed to a law as certain as thelaws which regulate the succession of the seasons and the courseof the trade winds. It is the nature of man to overrate present

* Paris Gazette, 1G89. Orange Gazette, London, Jan. 10. 168$.

** Grey’s Debates; Howe's speech; Feb. 2G. 1683; Bosoawcn’s speech,

March 1.; Narcissus Luttrell’s Diary, Feb. 23—27.

*** Grey’s Debates; Feb. 26. 168§.